Ben Affleck

60 SECONDS EXTRA!:Ben Affleck is as well known for his relationships as for his acting. But less about him and Matt Damon. The star of Good Will Hunting, Pearl Harbor and Sum Of All Fears and squeeze of Jennifer Lopez comes across another Jennifer (Garner) in his latest film, Daredevil, at cinemas now.

How does it feel to be in the eye of the hurricane with what Hollywood is calling the most celebrated love affair since Liz Taylor and Richard Burton?

It’s a little weird, and it’s new for me. I’ve been in public relationships before, with Gwyneth Paltrow for example, but it wasn’t quite the same thing. I thought: ‘OK, there is a certain degree of publicity that goes along with this.’ But I was a little shocked by how much.

Can you clear up whatever the rumour of the week is, and any news on your wedding?

I am not even abreast of all the rumours in the way you probably are. I can tell you that nothing has changed as far as I know. I am not up to date with the papers but I can tell you I’m not getting married any time in the near future.

Do you have any fears?

I have so many fears it would be hard to itemise them all. I don’t know. My real superhero would be Anxiety Guy.

Are you scared of flying?

I used to be scared of flying. And one of the few good things to come out of Pearl Harbor for me was the fact that I took flying lessons which really got me past that fear. It’s like a control thing for me. I don’t know why I think I would do any better at flying the plane. Clearly, I would do much worse. But it is just that thing about not having control of it. In any case, I put my seatbelt on now.

Are you afraid that your success might go away?

One day I would like to be able to work in this business and make movies without having to be, as you put it, in the eye of the hurricane. Basically, the trade-off is just money. I would like to think I get cast in a lot of movies because I am a great towering talent as an actor – but I have to acknowledge that a lot of it has to do with marketability and visibility. You make a bunch of money because you kind of sell your life along with the movie.

How has love changed you?

Well, Daredevil for example was a bit of a reach from my everyday life, especially with wearing a red leather costume. But one of the things I could identify with in this movie is what’s at its centre: a love story. It’s about the transforming quality and the redemptive powers that falling in love has. Without going into too much detail, I can tell you that is something I really held onto.

What does Matt Damon think about you being a superhero?

Matt’s genial but he’s threatened and a little jealous. He likes the tights, too. I know he feels a little comforted because on those nights when he hears a noise in the room, he can say: ‘Honey, get up and look downstairs…’ And I’ll go and look downstairs.

What does Jennifer think of that?

Jennifer is actually always the one who goes downstairs. I’m like: ‘Honey, get up, there’s a noise…’

Your schedule seems crazy. How do you stay sane?

I just try to have a good time when I’m not working. And you have to make time for your relationship. There is nothing so wrong with being busy. Most people work very hard, it’s only actors who people are used to seeing take three months off.

And how do you juggle your relationship with work?

You have to make it a priority. I have to prioritise it in the same way I would my work. But I’m no expert.

Do you make ‘date time’?

You have two people, so you balance it out. ‘I’ll work this day and you do that thing; I maybe won’t make a movie during this period.’ I heard that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett never work at the same time, which is probably why their marriage is successful.

You’ve made two films with J-Lo now. Are the films’ publicists terrified you’ll break up before the films come out?

People are always afraid you’ll break up. Publicists panic if actors get involved with each other. They just want them to stay together until the premiere. I would love to work with her again – I think she’s great but that probably depends on how successful those movies are. If they don’t work, nobody is going to want us to work together ever again.